Welcome to 1139 Colonial Dr East in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin! Mount Pleasant is a small town just west on the border of Racine, Wisconsin. This modern ranch style home was built in the 1940's and the original family lived here for more than 30 years.
I was commissioned to research this house and create a coffee table photo book of the story as a Christmas present. I'm so excited to share the story of this home and the families that all lived here.
Year Built: 1946
Sq. Feet: 1,738
Beds/Baths: 3/2.5
Acres: .310
1887 - Land Map of Mt. Pleasant
The red asterisk is the approx. location of 1139 E Colonial Dr.
As it is difficult to determine the exact location of the home, the land where the home was located was either owned by Jacob Fox or Carrecht & Schorn.
1893 - Land Map of Mt. Pleasant
The red asterisk is the approx. location of 1139 E Colonial Dr.
As it is difficult to determine the exact location of the home, the land where the home was located was either owned by Jacob Fox or Carrecht & Schorn.
1924 - Land Map of Mt. Pleasant
The red asterisk is the approx. location of 1139 E Colonial Dr.
As it is difficult to determine the exact location of the home, the land where the home was located was either owned by Jacob Fox or H.C Case.
1958 - Map of Mt. Pleasant
The red asterisk is the approx. location of 1139 E Colonial Dr.
By 1958, the land that was previously farms are now developed homes and subdivisions. The home of 1139 E Colonial Dr was built in 1947 along with most of the other homes in that area.
1962 - Map of the Jacob Fox Land per The Journal Times (Racine, WI) newspaper.
1139 E Colonial Dr was originally on the land of the Schutten Farm.
Family #1
The Newell Family
Years @ 1139 E. Colonial Drive: 33
1947-1980
*From 1947-1961, the address of 1139 E Colonial Dr was 925 E Colonial Drive*
George Hill Newell
Born: August 6, 1914; Peru, Indiana
Died: June 14, 1995; Highland, California
Father: George W. (b. 1878; Wisconsin - d. 1942; Wisconsin)
Mother: Corona Christine (b. 1896; Wisconsin - d. 1986; California)
Siblings: Sigrid; Philip (1927-1993), and William
George Newell was born in Peru, Indiana in 1914 but was raised in Burlington, Wisconsin.
George's paternal grandfather and father were both Physicians in Burlington and both we also military veterans. George followed in both their footsteps - he graduated from Loyola University with a degree of doctor of dental surgery and served in the Navy in World War II.
George Newell married Margaret Nelson on December 6, 1941.
Margaret Nelsen
Born: September 15, 1918; Britt, Iowa
Died: February 11, 1987; Highland, California
Father: James (b. 1886; Denmark - d. 1955; Wisconsin)
Mother: Marie Wendelboe (b. 1891; Denmark - d. 1981; Wisconsin)
Siblings: Doris (1921-1996)
Margaret Nelsen was born in Iowa to two Danish Immigrants. Her mother immigrated to the US in 1913 and her father immigrated in 1905. Her father worked as a contractor first in Iowa and then the family moved to Racine County, Wisconsin by 1920.
George and Margaret had two children: Kathleen and Sigrid.
Kathleen Karen Newell
Born: September 1, 1942; Racine, Wisconsin
Died: Living as of 2021
Spouse: Mark Irving Stirle (b, 1942 - living as of 2021)
Kathleen was born in 1942 in Racine. She graduated in 1960 from St Catherine's High School. She also attended University of Wisconsin-Madison. Kathleen married Mark Stirle in 1962.
Sigrid Newell
Born: March 15, 1946; Racine, Wisconsin
Died: Living as of 2021
Spouse: Philip Hurn (b, 1953 - living as of 2021)
Sigrid was born in 1946 in Racine. She graduated in 1964 from St Catherine's High School. She also graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Sigrid married Philip Hurn in 1982 in San Diego.
The Newell Family in the 1940's:
The home at 1139 E. Colonial Drive was built in 1947 and the Newell family were the first family to live in the home. The original address was 925 E. Colonial Drive, which lasted until 1961 when there were numbering changes in Mt. Pleasant.
Dr. George Newell opened his own dentist practice in 1945 after he retired from the Navy. His first office was located at 1520 Washington Ave in Racine. In 1960, he built a new office at 1925 Washington Ave.
In 1979, Dr George Newell retired from his dentist practice. George and Margaret moved to California to be closer to their two daughters by the end of 1980.
Margaret passed away in 1987 and George passed away in 1995.
The Newell family sold the home in June of 1980 to Michael and Cynthia Shanahan. Three years later in 1983, the home was sold to David and Karen Baker.
Thank you for visiting 1139 E. Colonial Dr in Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin. If only these walls could talk...the stories it would share! The memories that happened within these four walls will last a lifetime.
If you're interested in a coffee table book or a blog post about a home, business, school, church, etc...email me at brickandkinco@gmail.com for more details.